adormecer

Etymology

From Latin addormīscere, present active infinitive of addormīscō.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.doɾ.me.ˈt͡seɾ/

Verb

adormecer

1. to fall asleep (to pass from a state of wakefulness into sleep)
   • 13th century, attributed to Alfonso X of Castile, Cantigas de Santa Maria, E codex, cantiga 7 (facsimile):

     Eſta e como ſanta Maria liurou a Abadeſſa prenne q̇ adormecera anto ſeu Altar chorando.

     This one is about how Holy Mary acquitted the pregnant abbess who had fallen asleep crying in front of her altar.

Etymology

From Old Portuguese adormecer, from Latin addormīscere, present active infinitive of addormīscō.

Verb

adormecer (first-person singular present indicative adormeço, past participle adormecido)

1. (intransitive) to fall asleep (to pass from a state of wakefulness into sleep)

   Não consegui adormecer.

   I couldn't fall asleep.

2. (intransitive) to oversleep
3. (transitive) to send somebody to sleep, to lull to sleep
4. (transitive, medicine) to anesthetize
5. (transitive, figuratively) to soothe, to relieve

Etymology

From Latin addormīscere, present active infinitive of addormīscō.

Pronunciation

• (Castilian) IPA^(key): /adormeˈθeɾ/, [aðormeˈθeɾ]
• (Latin America) IPA^(key): /adormeˈseɾ/, [aðormeˈseɾ]

Verb

adormecer (first-person singular present adormezco, first-person singular preterite adormecí, past participle adormecido)

1. to make sleepy, or lull
2. to make numb

Further reading

• “adormecer” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.